The Feilding Star. Published Daily. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1894. THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 296, 24 April 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Published Daily. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1894. THE FIRE BRIGADE.

The complaint made* by Mr Eade, as captain of the Feilding Fire Brigade, that no sum is set a side on the Borough Estimates of expenditure f<>r 1894-5, in aid of the Brigade, is perhaps not unjustified. On the other band it has not been the custom to look upon contributions to the funds of the Brigade as annually recurrent, tout rather as special grants made by tho Council under special circumstances. According to tbe means at their disposal we believe the Councillors have acted generously towards the Brigade, Where there lare so many other, and such urgent claims on their very limited reveuue, it is a difficult task for them to so apportion it as to meet those ordinary requirements which are gonerally looked on as a first charge on the rates. We quite agree that the members of the Brigade have a very uphill fight to make which they should not have when we consider the valuable gratuitous services they render to the public. But their case is not a singular one. The history of most Brigades in the colony is about tho same. Plenty of liberal subscriptions after a fire, hut not a cent before. In an adjacent township the plan of honorary membership at a fee of, say, one guinea has been adopted with considerable success as 4 menus of raising money, and we see uo reason why it should not be tried in Feilding. Of course those who pay the very high Insurance premiums which obtain hero, may not at first be inclined to thus practically increase them, but a little judicious persuasion will often remove that feeling. The members of the Biigade have been reproached for not deing more for themselves by contiuued practice. There may have been a modicum of truth in this formerly, we are pleased to notice that the officers and men are now attending much better at the practices so that chargo can no longer be brought ag.iiust them That the public, whether tho owners of insured property or uot, should give more substantial help to co excellent a local institution must be patent to everyone, and we hope that the appeal for help virtually made in the letter of the Oaptaiu of the Brigade will be liberally responded to.